Retort



Sept H. J. MOELVAIN' ET AL RETORT Filed June 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l MMEEW f fivn Y M n v Filed June 12. 1926 1,642,457 H. J. MCELVAIN ET ALRETORT 2 SheetsfSheet 2 Patented Sept. 13, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

I HOWARD JEROME MOELVAIN AND HOWARD CLARK MQELVAIN, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

RE'I'ORT.

Application med .Tune 12, me.- Serial No. 115,541.

The object of our invention is to provide simple and efficient means forthe distillation of oil shales, carbonaceous materials and'other solidmatter, wherein it is desirable to distill and draw off the volatilematter from the solid residue.

Further objects of our invention consist in the placing of twoadjacently inclined drums having a common intake and wherein thematerials to be treated are fed into the upperly disposed cylinder andthe materials to be treated are passed through the same by gravity andthe agitation of the same as the materials pass therethrough.

The materials are then gravitated into a second cylinder and passedtherethrough by similar means, indirect heat beingiapplied to thematerials as the same are passed through each of the cylinders. Meansbeingprovided for the drawing off of the volatile matter from each ofthe cylinders at one or more locations.

Still further objects of our invention consist in superposing one of thecylinders above the other and in supplying a single prime mover foractuating the same. In-

ependent sources of heat supply may be used thus permitting of diiferenttemperatures being used if desired.

Still further objects of our invention are comprised in the simpleconstruction of the same and wherein the materials to be treated are fedinto the cylinders and wherein the materials during treatment are passedthrough the cylinders is agitated during the passage therethrough. Thevolatile matter being liberated being drawn ofi at one or more points.

With these and incidental objects in view,

' the invention consists in certain novel features of construction andcombination of parts, the essential elements of'which are set forth inthe appended claims and a preferred form of embodiment of which ishereinafter shown with reference to the drawings which accompany andform a part of this specification.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a partial side elevation of the so assembleddevice.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of one of the cylinders.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on llne 3-3 of Fig. 2, looking inthe direction indicated.

Fig. 4 is a partial sectional view of one of the vaned cylindersdisposed within the main cylinder.

'Fig. 5 is a partial longitudinal sectional vlew of one of the cylindersand is made to illustrate primarily the heat supplying pi e disposedcentral of the main assembly.

ike reference characters refer to like parts throughout the severalviews.

Two or more cylinders l and 2, are arranged wherein one is superposedabove the other and wherein a common feeding hopper 3, is used for themechanical feedin of the material to, be distilled is used and whereinthe same is made to discharge the material into the uppermost of thecylinders. A mechanical feeding mechanism, as a screw conveyor 5,carries the material in a substantially horizontal direction from thefeeding h0pper3, and deposits the same into an inclined chute 4:, thatdelivers the materials into-the upper of the cylinders. The

outer cylinder 1, is stationary and is supported upon supporting blocks7 and 8 by legs 9 and 10. Disposed within the outer cylindrical shell 1are concentric cylinders 11 and 12, each of which has vanes disposedthereupon as is best illustrated in Big. 2 and Fig. 3. The innercylinder 12 is longer than either of the others and the cylinder 11 isthe shorter. -A seal is maintained between the ends of the outercylinder and the inner cylinder 12 to prevent the escapement of gasesbeing generated therebetween. This seal is maintained through thewearing rings 13 and 14, which are adapted to register with the innerwalls of the outer cylinder heads. The seal is further maintainedthrough the medium of the stufiing glands '15 and 16 having take upbolts 17 and'18, for maintaining a constant pressure upon the packingmaterials. Cylinders 11 and 12 are secured together and turn together.Mechanical means being provided for the rotation of the same. A 100prime mover, as an electric motor 19, is connected to a line shaft 21through a suitable driving medium, as a belt 2t). The mner cylinder 12,operates within suitable pillow blocks 24 and 25' and 1s maintainedtherein during rotation.' ROICSJUOD. 1s 1mparted thereto through .themedium of sprockets and a chain drive 22. the cylinder 12 is rotated thecylinder 11 is also rotated. A series of vanes 23 are secured to theinner periphery of the cylinder 11, and a series of the one bein out ofregistry with each of the series 0 the other. Thus as the same arerotated, the material will be agitated by the contact with the vanesthat are placed in the path of the materlal to be treated. The feedingends of the vanes 23 are placed circumferentially about the cylinder asillustrated in Fig. 4 at 27, to impart a screw action to the material.The feeding chute 4 is so arranged as to depos t the materials wellwithin the vanes as is illustrated in the dotted lines in Fig. 2. Wehave found that the indirect a plication of heat produces the most satisactory results, and that liquid, or gaseous, or powcred fuel will givethe most economical operations free from operating troubles: An innerheat pipe 28 is disposed within the cylinder 12, and central thereof,the fuel being fed through a suitable burner head 29. No particular typeof burner head is recommended, as there are many types adaptable forthis character of service. he

fuel is supplied through feed pipe 30. In operations of this character,the material to be treated is fed into the treatin chamber at a-fairlylow temperature and t e temperature of the mass will increase as themass is fed along the treating chamber. Those volatiles that becomegaseous at the lower temperatures will be liberated in the early stagesof the treatment and as the temperature is increased other volatilesubstances will asify and be liberated. To permit of the rawing oif ofthese different volatiles within certain groups, we have provided outlettubes with induction fans placed therein. The firstoutlet tube 31 havingan induction fan 32 secured thereto, and a second outlet tube 33 havingan induction fan 34:. The number of outlet tubes will depend upon thecharacter of material being treated and the relative length of thetreating cylinders. A seal is maintained between the upper and lowercylinders to prevent the escapement of the gases being liberated. One ormore outlet tubes are also provided in the lower treating cylinder, asshown at 35.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirablyadapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understoodthat it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form ofembodiment herein shown and described, as

it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, all comin within thescope of the claims which f0 ow.

What we claim is 1. In a retort, the combination of a stationary clinder; said stationary cylinder being inc ined to the horizontal,peripherally spaced concentric cylinders revolubly mounted within saidstationary cylinder; the innermost of said cylinders being of greatestlength; longitudinal wings disposed upon the adjacent peripheralsurfaces of said revoluble cylinders; intake and discharge openingsformed in the periphery of said stationary cylinder; means permittinsaid revoluble cylinders being revolve around a common axis, and meansforsupplying heat within the innermost cylinder.

2. In a retort, the combination of a stationary cylinder, peripherallyspaced concentric cylinders revolubly mounted Within said stationarycylinder, said cylinders bein inclined to the horizontal, one of said cyinders being of a longer diameter than the others, longitudinal win sdisposed upon the adjacent peripheral sur aces of said revolublecylinders, intake and discharge openings formed in the periphery of saidstationary cylinder; means permitting said revoluble cylinders beingrevolved around a common axis, and means for supplying indirect heat tothe material to be treated.

3. In a retort, the combination of astationary cylinder, peripherallyspaced concentric cylinders, revolubly mounted within said stationarycylinder, all of said cylinders be ing inclined to the horizontal,longitudinal wings dispomd upon the ad acent peripheral surfaces of.said revoluble cylinders, intake and discharge 0 enings through the wallof the stationary cy inder, means permitting the revoluble cylindersbeing revolved around a common central axis, means for supplying heat tothe central cylinder, and means for the progressive drawing off of thematerials of volatilization.

4. In a retort, the combination of a horizontally inclined stationarycylinder, peripherally spaced concentric cylinders revolubly mountedwithin said stationary cylinder, Wings disposed on the inner surface ofone of the concentric cylinders and on the outer periphery of the otherand out of register with each other, intake and discharge openingsdisposed through the wall 129 of the stationary cylinder power feedingmeans disposed within the first of said feed ing openings, meansermitting the revoluble cylinders being revo ved around a common centralaxis, a seal disposed about said axis, means for supplying heat to theinnermost cylinder and means for the drawing oif progressively of theproducts of volatilization.

5. In a retort, the combination of a stationary cylinder; 9. pair ofperipherally spaced, concentric cylinders revolubly forgned in theperiphery of said stationary mounted within said stationary cylinder;the cylinder; and means permitting and revov innermost of said revolublecylinders being luble cylinders to be revolved around a com- 10 ofgreater length'than said stationary oylmon axis.

inder; longitudinal win disposed upon the adjacent peripheral sur acesof said revolu- HOWARD JEROME MGELVAIN. ble cylinders; intake anddischarge openings HOWARD CLARK MOELVAIN.

